Volvo Ocean Race

Seven teams compete for the Volvo Ocean Race trophy across 45,000 miles and six continents

Tough Sailors

Seven teams compete for the Volvo Ocean Race trophy across 45,000 miles and six continents

The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's toughest sailing event, where the elite of the sailing profession battle it out on the most treacherous oceans. Often referred to as the ‘Everest of Sailing’, the race is the ultimate test of sailing skills and athlete stamina.

The 2018- 2018 edition takes the teams across 45,000 nautical miles around the world, passing across four oceans, six continents and 12 landmark ports. Teams are making their way across Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajai, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg and finishing of at The Hague. The race started at the beginning of October and will end at the end of June.

Each sailing team has 9 professional sailors who race day and night for more than 20 days at a time on some of the legs. The crew members are also trained in medical response, sail-making, engine repair, nutrition and hydraulics. The crew follow three or four-hour cycles, known as watch systems of being on duty or off duty – depending on the number of crew on board. They are likely to burn between 5,000 and 6,000 calories in one day.

The first edition of the Volvo Ocean Race – then called Whitbread Round the World Race, started in Portsmouth, UK on September 8, 1973, when Whitbread had decided to sponsor a regatta around the world. In this first edition, 17 boats with 167 crew members in total set sail on Leg 1 to Cape Town, South Africa.

MAPFRE team at the top of the scoreboard

In the 2017-2018 edition, MAPFRE returned to the Volco Ocean Race – with a clear goal of winning the trophy for the first time in Spain’s history. The Squad includes Olympic Gold Medalists, America’s Cup Winners and some of the most regarded offshore sailors on the planet. The MAPFRE team has been doing extremely well, winning a number of legs and staying in the top position in others. The seventh leg will start on the 18th of March, and will take teams to Itajaí, Brazil. To follow their journey visit: http://desafiomapfre.com

MAPFRE Middlesea is offering a chance to one of its clients to win a trip to Hague, where the Volvo Ocean Race will end. To learn more, visit the official Facebook Page.

Interesting Facts

• 167 boats and 2030 sailors have taken part in 12 editions of the event.
• 43 different nationalities are represented by the crew who have sailed in the race since 1973.
• 5 sailors have lost their lives at sea during the race:
• 12,300 nm, the longest leg in race history: Leg 5 Quingdao, China to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It took the fleet over 40 days to complete.
• 29 boats took part in the 1981-82 race, the largest fleet ever.
• The closest finish came in the 2005-06 race when Movistar beat ABN AMRO ONE into Wellington, New Zealand by just 9 seconds.

Boat Insurance

Regardless of whether you use your boat for sailing competitions, or merely to enjoy a Sunday afternoon with your pals, do not underestimate the importance of boat insurance. Adequate boat insurance protects your vessel while it is both on land and on sea and will help you sail with peace of mind, knowing that should the unthinkable happen, you are covered.

MAPFRE Middlesea’s boat insurance cover offers protection against accidental loss or damage to the motors, electrical machinery, battery and equipment. Such damage can occur when the boat hits an underwater or floating object, causing damage to the hull and propeller.

The insurance will also cover any unforeseen malfunctions which are caused by latent defects, faulty designs or construction failures.

The policy will also cover your legal liability, should someone on board your vessel be injured or dies. The injuries suffered are also covered by the personal accident clause.

MAPFRE Middlesea’s insurance policy covers damages caused while the vessel is in transit by road or ferry anywhere in Malta, including loading and unloading. The reasonable costs incurred including salvage charges in preventing and minimising a loss and for inspecting the boat following grounding are also covered.